1. Chicago Bears moneyline against Carolina Panthers -170
The Chicago Bears should really win this game. Yes, I know, it is Bryce Young, the number one pick against Tyson Bagent, the UDFA. Still, Young is averaging 3.6 adjusted net yards per attempt, while Bagent is at 3.93. Bagent has not been great, but if you did a blind test of their stats, you might think Bagent is on the better trajectory.
It goes beyond that, though. The Chicago Bears are getting healthy at the right time. Braxton Jones is back, which is major. Darnell Mooney is playing his best football, and we may see Equainmeous St. Brown, who is a stud run blocker and a helper on screen passes.
More than that, Montez Sweat is in his second week with the team, and that should make DeMarcus Walker better. Also, the secondary is fully healthy for only the third time all season. In weeks one and six, the Chicago Bears started Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Kyler Gordon, Jaquan Brisker, and Eddie Jackson. In week one Gordon left with an injury in week six Jackson left after just 16 snaps. If these five start and finish the game, it will be the healthiest the secondary has been all year.
More than that, the Panthers are banged up. Jaycee Horn, Jeremy Chinn, Justin Houston, and Yetur Gross-Matson highlight the IR names on defense. Brian Burns is out this week with a concussion, as is CJ Henderson. On offense, it sounds like DJ Chark will be out this week.
The Panthers are hurting, and the Bears are healthy. The Bears are at home, and statistically speaking, the QB situations are a wash. The Bears can run the ball, but the Panthers struggle against the run. Betting on the Bears to win big is a bold call, but a better bet is just to call for a win outright.